The Blanding Utah Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announces an open house and dedication of the new chapel in Monument Valley, UT.

The open house will be held Saturday, November 17 from 2-5 p.m. The dedication is Sunday morning, November 18, at 10 a.m.

The new building is located at 50 Monument Valley Road, north of Monument Valley High School. All are invited to attend this historic event.

With this dedication, the Mexican Hat branch of the church will become the Monument Valley branch as part of the Tuba City, AZ Stake. President Jim Michael Dandy is the current branch president and will continue to serve in that capacity.

Both stakes will participate in the dedication of the beautiful new building in scenic Monument Valley, UT.

The great majority of the members of the Mexican Hat branch live in the Monument Valley area. The new location will considerably shorten their travel time to attend church services.

It has been the desire of stake leaders and branch members for many years to build and enjoy the blessings of a chapel in Monument Valley. Now this blessing is a reality.

When the Mexican Hat branch was organized, they did not have a building of their own. In 1969, they began to meet in a steel building located in Mexican Hat, near the old Norman Nevills Lodge. The branch president at that time was Calvin Benally.

Prior to this time, they held meetings in the home of Jack and Anna Pehrson. In 1970, the branch moved to a steel building in Halchita, located about 200 yards south of the old elementary school building. Fred Halliday was the branch president.

The Mexican Hat chapel was finished in early 1972. Elder Mark E. Peterson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, attended and dedicated the building. The chapel was packed with local people for this dedication.

In 2010, a property in Monument Valley became available and was purchased by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ground breaking for the new building was held in October, 2011. Now the beautiful building is complete and is a dream come true for the saints in the Monument Valley area.

Please join them to tour the building at the open house on Saturday, November 17 and dedication on Sunday, November 18.

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